CHARLOTTE, NC/JULY 23, 2026 - For one week each summer, the campus of Johnson C. Smith University transforms into more than a college campus. It becomes a place where hundreds of young men discover new possibilities for their futures through athletics, mentorship, career exploration and life-changing conversations.
Now in its eighth year at JCSU, IMPACT Camp welcomed approximately 300 campers this summer. Students from across the region tapped into their competitive spirit, intelligence, and collaborative impulses inside the Jack S. Brayboy Gym, the New Science Center, the Irwin Belk Complex, and inside the Mary Joyce Taylor Crisp Student Union. They learned from the best and brightest, including President Kinloch and local leaders, from the front office to the field. The program’s mission is simple but powerful.
“Our mission is to first and foremost show these young men that they’re loved,” said Shawn Kennedy, co-founder and board member of IMPACT Camp. “The second mission is to give them a path and give them hope.”
Rather than promoting one definition of success, IMPACT Camp introduces participants to a variety of opportunities after high school.
“When they turn 18, we want them to have an idea of where they can go,” Kennedy said. “College isn’t for everybody, so we say college is an option, but going into the trades, going into the military, or starting a business are all great opportunities. Our goal is to show these young men the art of the possible.” To accomplish that mission, each day of camp focused on a different career pathway.
Military professionals kicked off the week by introducing campers to careers in service. Entrepreneurs later shared how they built successful businesses before campers developed companies of their own and pitched them during a Shark Tank-style competition. Skilled trades professionals then provided hands-on demonstrations, teaching campers how to lay brick, run electrical wire, install drywall and explore careers in construction and HVAC.
Toward the end of the week, the focus shifted to higher education as campers experienced life on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University.
“We’re teaching them what an HBCU is,” Kennedy said. “We’re teaching them about the SATs, the ACTs, the FAFSA. Most of these young men think sports is the only way out, so we explain that if you want to play college sports, you’ve got to prepare academically.”
Athletics remain a critical part of the camp experience, but Kennedy says athletics can draw students. Once in the room, experts widen the lens to include academic experiences and a corporate curriculum.
“Sports are about 20 percent of our day,” he said. “We have to have the carrot—we have to have something fun for them to do. But we tell these young men to use sports as a tool to get somewhere else.”
Campers participate in basketball, football, kickball, track and field, tennis and lacrosse while learning teamwork, discipline and perseverance.
Elijah Jones, 16 and Shilen McCoy, 13 at the 2026 IMPACT Camp
For Elijah Jones, 16, the camp has become much more than a summer activity. After attending since he was eight or nine years old, he now serves as a counselor, mentoring younger participants.
“The best part about the camp is when the speakers come in and tell us how their life was, what they’ve been through and how they’re trying to impact our lives,” Elijah said.
Stepping into a leadership role felt like a natural progression.
“As a camper, I saw the counselors who watched over me,” he said. “I wanted to be just like them when I became a counselor.”
Today, Elijah encourages younger campers to stay engaged during presentations and think seriously about their futures.
“I try to inspire them,” he said. “I try to keep them focused while the speakers are talking, get them engaged and ask them questions.”
Thirteen-year-old Shilen McCoy, now in his fifth year at IMPACT Camp, says the program offers young people an opportunity to make positive choices.
“It gives a lot of kids the opportunity to learn new things and not end up in jail or on the street,” Shilen said. “It’s positive.”
Throughout the week, he learned about business, the skilled trades, military careers and other professions while developing character and leadership.
“We just learn how to be a better person in America,” he said.
The athletic competitions taught the students valuable lessons, as well.
“The relay at the end is the most fun,” Shilen said. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to be running for my team…. Having teamwork is most important during track day and basketball because we have to pass the ball and do the baton,” he said. “Being competitive just makes it more fun.”
The camp’s partnership with Johnson C. Smith University has been instrumental to its success.
“It is a blessing to be here,” Kennedy said. “JCSU has opened the door for us for the last eight years. We don’t pay a dollar to be here. We have use of the classrooms, the gym, the football field and support from the staff. We can’t thank JCSU enough for hosting IMPACT Camp.”
Among those who helped inspire the camp is John T. Crawford, a celebrated Johnson C. Smith University alumnus, 2026 Arch of Triumph Honoree from the Class of 1960. Watching the program flourish has been deeply rewarding Crawford revealed.
“It’s doing really well,” Crawford said. “I’m impressed, and I just see it getting bigger and bigger.”
With approximately 300 campers participating this summer and hundreds more unable to secure a spot, Crawford hopes the program’s reach will continue to expand.
“This year we got 300 kids, but there were 400 more that wanted to come,” he said. “I’m hoping maybe at some point we’ll have two weeks.”
For the campers, IMPACT is more than a week of sports and summer fun. It is an investment in their future. Through an intensive program, replete with hands-on learning and career exploration, the camp catapults the next generation of leaders into a realm were success is the probable outcome.
